The Kenya Defence Forces troops operating under African Mission in Somalia have done a commendable job in the fight against terrorism in the region and will not relent in crashing terror group Al-Shabaab, General Samson Mwathethe has said.

Gen Mwathethe, the Chief of the Defence Forces (CDF), was speaking on Friday when he made a Christmas visit to KDF troops operating under AMISOM in Kismayo and commended them for, ‘a job well done.’

While addressing the troops at Kismayo International Airport, Gen Mwathethe said that KDF deeply acknowledged the risks, personal sacrifices and gallantry the soldiers have shown since their deployment in Somalia in 2011.

“We are here in Somalia to defeat terrorism and we shall not relent until when we will achieve our objectives,” Gen Mwathethe said.

He attributed the essence of his Christmas visit to celebrating such occasions together in pursuit of the spirit de corps of the KDF.

KILL AL-SHABAAB

He then congratulated the soldiers for their acts of valour and effort to protect Kenya’s sovereignty and integrity of and thanked them for their spirited fight against Al-Shabaab militia.

“Al Shabaab militia is like a snake that hunts your chicken at home. The natural instinct is to kill the snake from outside before it enters your house to kill your chicken. We are here to kill the enemy before he enters our Country to harm fellow Kenyans,” he said.

Gen Mwathethe also emphasised to the Kenyan troops on the essence of working closely with other Countries in the African Union (AU) with the common purpose being to defeat terrorism.

He further urged Kenyans especially those living in Lamu County to assist in securing their localities by reporting any suspicious individuals or strangers to security agencies operating in the area.

Said he: “Security is a collective responsibility. It is therefore our duty as the citizenry to provide useful information to the security agencies in the fight against terror.”

Daily Nation